Please Don't Go, We Love You So

Well, today I go back to work, rested after another break into the exciting world of PreKindergarten.  The morning is met by the usual look of dread from Bunny when she hears my alarm clock go off and sees me get out of bed and start getting ready to go out to work.  As I sit down to eat breakfast and catch up with a few things online, she sits beside me, curled up as tightly as she can make herself against my leg despite the fact that the couch is rather long. 

We usually have a lot more adventures than we did over this break, but the weather prevented us from going out much.  The truth is, she has a touch of cabin fever.  We all do.  I'm going to have to look pretty hard to find some things that we can get out and do in the next month or so, but it will be worth it.  The wonder that is Bunny shouldn't be kept pent up in the house when an adoring public awaits.  We had our little chat as I ate my yogurt that we usually have before I go back to work.

Bunny:  Are you sure you have to go?

Me:  Well, you like eating and toys and fancy collars, so I guess I do have to go.

Bunny:  I could go with you!

Me:  You have been to school with me before, that's true, but it would be all day.  I'm pretty sure it would cut into your nap schedule.

Bunny:   Not my nap schedule!  I need my beauty rest!

Me:  Trust me, you're not hurting in that department at all!  You'll be beautiful no matter what!

Bunny:  Still, it seems like a big risk!

Me:  Of course it is.  It's probably for the best if you stay home.  Perhaps you'd protect my pillow safe from Blueberry's butt today?

Bunny:  Of course I will!  As soon as you go, I'll get started.

Me:  That's what I thought!  I knew I could count on you!

Bunny:  But you're coming back, right?

Me:  As soon as I can get back home, puppy girl!

And so I'm off to start another session of school.  I am thankful to be going back to a job that I enjoy and that the teacher's strike didn't happen.  The best part of going back to school is still coming home to a warm greeting from some sweet hounds when I get back, though!

We'd also like to add a small note here, we wish KB and K the best of luck as they both recover from surgery together.  We hope you're back on the trails together soon!

I said, "I'm on vacation!"

As of Thursday morning, I am officially on summer break, thanks to the fact that I work in a year round school. I have five and a half glorious weeks to do whatever I'd like at a nice, leisurely pace. No longer do I have to rise at 5:30 to get ready for work. Sleeping in is truly one of the great pleasures of being on summer break. That is, unless you live with an old lady greyhound. Lilac has gotten it into her head that she now needs to rise every morning at 5:00. It would be one thing if she just woke up, but no, that's not how it is. This seems to have become our typical morning routine now that I'm on break and looking forward to sleeping in and staying up late to watch the Tonight Show.

Lilac: I need to go out!

Me: It's too early, go back to bed!

Lilac: It's an emergency! Let me out!

Me: I'm not falling for it! Nobody needs to go anywhere at this hour.

Lilac: Let me out or I'll pee in your shoe and shoot you with my laser eyes!

Husband: Dammit, dog! We are not doing this! Go back to sleep!

Me: Would you stop yelling? I'm trying to sleep!

Lilac: I have to go out! I swear to you, bad things will happen if you don't let me out!

Husband: I said go back to sleep! We are not going out now!

Lilac: Alright hounds! It's time to go! Roust the general to lead the troops outside!

Husband: I said no!

Bunny: Oh, wake up and pet me!

Hawk: I have a hair trigger! Take me out!

Blueberry: Zzzzzzzz! (She's not an early riser, either, God bless her!)

(At this point, I should remind you that I moved away from the edge of the bed when these shenanigans all started)

Lilac: Just remember, you've left me with no choice!

Then my husband screams as she touches her nose to some exposed skin on his body, whether it be his back, his leg, his arm or anything else she can find that will get his attention. If I didn't know that it was impossible, I'd swear that she stuck her nose in the freezer for an hour before touching it to the bare skin of her poor, unsuspecting victims. Yes, I have experienced it, and I take measures to avoid a repeat experience. My husband, however, thanks to Bunny's enjoyment of stretching out when she sleeps, sleeps on the edge of his side of the bed. If only he'd get up earlier when she starts, but alas, I digress.

After the cold nose poke, Husband gets up and begins slowly making his way through the dark bedroom while dodging three excited dogs to the door. After he gets to the back door, he calls Blueberry, loud enough to wake the dead, and she gets up, stretches slowly and heads to the back door. He takes them all out, comes back inside to visit the bathroom, gets their food and ambles out to bring them back in, taking his time so everybody can get done with their business. Lilac, inevitably, is standing at the door of the pen. She will watch him take Blueberry and Bunny out of their pen, hook on their leashes and head to her pen. Then she will turn, wander back out into the pen, and finally take care of business. Some emergency!

So, they come back inside to eat, and Husband lays down to sleep for another hour or so on the couch. Lilac sniffs at her food, wanders about and makes herself comfortable on a dog bed so she can take her morning nap. Apparently, we're all just supposed to spend a little time together in the morning! Sweet Morning Dreams, Lilac!